See All

Preferences

My Communities

My Discussions

My Email Digests

2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with Colitis, symptons only include bloating, stomach pains and discomfort, shortly after came panic attacks, stress and serious nervous issues, I find it real hard to sleep at night and my doctor prescribed me Xanax to relax me and help me sleep. I have begun a healthy diet plus daily gym visits. Normally at night I always lay on my stomach and I can feel all type of rumblings in my stomach which in turn make me nervous so I pretty much just rely on pills to sleep. Today though for the first time ever in my life I was awoken up at least 5 times with shortness of breath, my girlfriend woke me up 2 of those times when she saw me gasping for air, this is all really scary for me, but I what I want to know is if my colitis or nervousness is related to my shortness of breath when I sleep (It has only happened this one time and I'm scared of going to sleep tomorrow)

Poll Results

4 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Colitis and difficulty sleeping2 weeks ago I was diagnosed with Colitis, symptons only include bloating, stomach pains and discomfort, shortly after came panic attacks, stress and serious nervous issues, I find it real hard to sleep at night and my doctor prescribed me Xanax to relax me and help me sleep. I have begun a healthy diet plus daily gym visits. Normally at night I always lay on my stomach and I can feel all type of rumblings in my stomach which in turn make me nervous so I pretty much just rely on pills to sleep. Today though for the first time ever in my life I was awoken up at least 5 times with shortness of breath, my girlfriend woke me up 2 of those times when she saw me gasping for air, this is all really scary for me, but I what I want to know is if my colitis or nervousness is related to my shortness of breath when I sleep (It has only happened this one time and I'm scared of going to sleep tomorrow)

Hello I am haveing the same symptoms as you my colon swells so bad it push,s up on my lungs and stomach I have wondered if that was the cause of the shortness of breath.I only have it when i am swollen and backed up

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Colitis and difficulty sleepingHello I am haveing the same symptoms as you my colon swells so bad it push,s up on my lungs and stomach I have wondered if that was the cause of the shortness of breath.I only have it when i am swollen and backed up

I sleep better on my stomach. I guess we're all different, but it was my gastro Dr's nurse that suggested it. I hadn't slept on my stomach in years, but after complaining about my awful sleep habits since I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 5 years ago, I decided to give it a try. It was successful for me. This is when I'm having a flare, which is right now. It does get me through the night tho. If I try either side or my back, I'm back and forth to the john all night.

You just have to find what is best for you. And Sheba is right...being nervous and having a lot of anxiety is not helping your situation at all. Think positive...this is so important. If you go to bed thinking negative about what you think is ahead of the rest of the night for you, you will more than likely have a bad night. Thinking positive works for me. I just keeping telling myself that it's going to be OK.

Give it a try...don't think negative thoughts before you go to bed or when you do retire. That doesn't help your situation at all. Keep us posted on how you're doing. We do care.

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Colitis and difficulty sleepingI sleep better on my stomach. I guess we're all different, but it was my gastro Dr's nurse that suggested it. I hadn't slept on my stomach in years, but after complaining about my awful sleep habits since I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis 5 years ago, I decided to give it a try. It was successful for me. This is when I'm having a flare, which is right now. It does get me through the night tho. If I try either side or my back, I'm back and forth to the john all night.

You just have to find what is best for you. And Sheba is right...being nervous and having a lot of anxiety is not helping your situation at all. Think positive...this is so important. If you go to bed thinking negative about what you think is ahead of the rest of the night for you, you will more than likely have a bad night. Thinking positive works for me. I just keeping telling myself that it's going to be OK.

Give it a try...don't think negative thoughts before you go to bed or when you do retire. That doesn't help your situation at all. Keep us posted on how you're doing. We do care.

As everyone else has said, you need to try to relax. Nerves and UC are a bad combination. Since I had my abdominal surgeries, I sleep on my side or on my back. When I sleep on my stomach, I have trouble breathing. You may try propping yourself up with an extra pillow because that can give your lungs room to expand and help you breathe more easily. You may also have some sort of sleep apnea, or your shortness of breath could be related to a medication side effect if you are taking something new. One of the possible side effects of Xanax is difficulty breathing, but it is not very common. It could very likely just be nerves, or it could just be gas, since you said you are bloated, pushing on your diaphragm and not allowing it to move freely. It could be a lot of things. You should talk to your doctor and discuss your concerns.

Thanks for your Reply!

Report This| Share this:Colitis and difficulty sleepingAs everyone else has said, you need to try to relax. Nerves and UC are a bad combination. Since I had my abdominal surgeries, I sleep on my side or on my back. When I sleep on my stomach, I have trouble breathing. You may try propping yourself up with an extra pillow because that can give your lungs room to expand and help you breathe more easily. You may also have some sort of sleep apnea, or your shortness of breath could be related to a medication side effect if you are taking something new. One of the possible side effects of Xanax is difficulty breathing, but it is not very common. It could very likely just be nerves, or it could just be gas, since you said you are bloated, pushing on your diaphragm and not allowing it to move freely. It could be a lot of things. You should talk to your doctor and discuss your concerns.

Report Problems With Your Medications to the FDA

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

The opinions expressed in WebMD Communities are solely those of the User, who may or may not have medical or scientific training. These opinions do not represent the opinions of WebMD. Communities are not reviewed by a WebMD physician or any member of the WebMD editorial staff for accuracy, balance, objectivity, or any other reason except for compliance with our Terms and Conditions. Some of these opinions may contain information about treatments or uses of drug products that have not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Do not consider Communities as medical advice. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your care plan or treatment. WebMD understands that reading individual, real-life experiences can be a helpful resource, but it is never a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified health care provider. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or dial 911 immediately.